Part 4

I observed as I passed through the gardens, that the vegetables were distinguished from one another by Latin inscriptions, as _calamus_ _aromaticus_, _sambucus_, _rhabarbarum_, &c.

CHAP. XIII.

_A Description of_ Paris.--_Of the River_ Seine.--_Of the Climate.--Dress,--Anecdote of a Frenchman.--French Courtship, and the Fondness of the Ladies_, &c.

Paris, the capital of France, is situated in lat. 48 deg. 50 min. north; and long. 2 deg. 10 min. east of the royal observatory at Greenwich; and is called one of the grandest and most beautiful cities in Europe. It is built in a circular form, and was about eighteen miles in circumference, 'till of late it has been made much larger by the augmentation of their buildings, and the erection of a new wall, which encompasses the old one at a great distance. The city is walled in to prevent smuggling, sentries being placed at the gates, where duties are paid, &c. The houses in this city are from six to eight stories high in general, built chiefly of hewn stone, which are of a lightish colour. These stories are much higher than ours in London. The buildings are very magnificent; and the city is amazingly populous.

It contains upwards of 22,000 houses,--979 streets,--52 parishes,--130 convents,--28 hospitals,--and about 800,000 people.

The streets of this city are narrow; and being paved to the sides of the houses, with stones much like those in the middle of the streets in London, makes the walking inconvenient, and exposes travellers to the danger of being hurt by the carriages.

It is a pity that the streets of Paris, and many other cities, had not been laid out at right angles, at proper distances, and at convenient breadths, when the places were first built.

Paris is divided almost into equal parts by the river Seine, which did not appear to me to be so large as the river Thames. There is a number of bridges over the Seine, and several of them have buildings on either side, which form a complete street. This river rises in Burgundy, and running through Paris, empties itself into the English Channel, between Havre-de-Grace and Honfleur.

The tides are not strong enough to bring heavy vessels up to Paris. The people are obliged to make use of long barges, and to tow them up with horses. There are some water-mills erected on this river, for the purpose of grinding grain, &c.

The air is much clearer at Paris than it is at London; and the country is healthy: the climate in the south of France is called the wholesomest in Europe. It is something remarkable that I did not see one funeral all the time I was in France; which made me suppose that they buried their dead in the night: but this, on enquiry, I found not to be the practice.

The inhabitants of Paris are polite, gay and luxurious; many of them very handsome. The amusements of the city are pleasing, and the people enjoy their pleasures at a cheap rate, as foreigners contribute much towards the support of their theatres, hotels, &c.

The people in France do not seem to be much given to intemperance; and I was told, that when the farmers and mechanics have received their wages, they spend them at home in their families, instead of being drunk at ale-houses; a thing too common in England. I was also told, that the French do not use so much corrupt and abominable language as the English and Irish do.

The ladies have a much handsomer head dress than the English; they do not wear stays, neither do they make many of their gowns so long as to draw on the ground, which is a waste, and a dirty indecent fashion. The gentlemen dress much as we do in London, only they sometimes wear cloaks, and the collars of their coats are not quite so high as ours. I have sometimes wondered that cloaks are not more in fashion in London.

The French are very merry and cheerful; and their light and airy turn makes them patient in times of adversity; they have also the just reputation of being witty; and it has been said, that they are sometimes too cunning for the English. This brings to my mind the following anecdote, _viz._ A Frenchman, who had supped and lodged at an inn kept by an Englishman, demanded his reckoning: the landlord made out a bill of ten shillings, which the Frenchman paid, thinking in the mean time that his host was something extravagant in his demands, and was therefore resolved to be _up_ with him. The landlord soon complained that he was very much troubled with rats. "Vell," said the Frenchman, "for von bouteille of vin, I vill tell how you may get rid of dem all." The landlord gave the wine. "Vell," said the Frenchman, "do you make out a bill, and charge dem rats ten shillings a-piece for every night da have lodged in your house, and I vill be bound da vill all go off, and never trouble you any more."

I shall here give a slight specimen of the _French courtship_, which a gentleman repeated to me; and if the gentlemen in England, Scotland, Ireland, America, or elsewhere, shall see fit to follow the same mode of address to the ladies, I shall have no objection, providing they address themselves to proper persons.

"Madame,

"Upon the consideration of the good reputation you bear in the nation, I find an inclination to offer you my salutation; and, upon my salvation, if this my declaration finds your acceptation, it will cause an obligation that will be of long continuation, even from generation to generation."

The ladies in France are very amorous, and those that are married are not much troubled with their husbands being jealous of them, let them be honest or dishonest: and you may court a Frenchman's wife before his face, and he will not be jealous of you, as I was informed. Great numbers of the lewd women are said to be licensed by authority, to keep public houses for the entertainment of persons of that character.

The disease that is commonly spread by such people is rather upon the decline at Paris, it is said; owing to the frequent use of different kinds of remedies, as preventatives, &c.

CHAP. XIV.

_The Length, Breadth, Boundaries, Inhabitants, New Divisions, Mountains, Rivers, Soil, Produce, Manufactories, Commerce, Religion, and Laws of_ France.

The kingdom of France is about six hundred and twenty-two miles in length from north to south, and six hundred and twenty in breadth from east to west: It is bounded--Easterly on Germany, Switzerland, Savoy, and Piedmont--Southerly on the Mediterranean sea, and the Pyrenean mountains, which separate it from Spain--Westerly on the Bay of Biscay--Northerly on the English channel--and North-easterly on the Spanish Netherlands. It contains near 26,950-7/12 square leagues--25,000,000 of inhabitants--Eighteen arch-bishoprics--167,000 clergymen--28 universities--25 academies--750 great convents of monks--200 of nuns--10,000 of a smaller kind--and upwards of 200,000 of monks and nuns.

I understand that the National Assembly have divided the kingdom into eighty grand divisions, or counties, of eighteen leagues in length, and as many in breadth; and each grand division into nine commonalities, that are six leagues square; and also each commonality into nine cantons, of two leagues in length, and two in breadth.

Hence there are eighty grand divisions, seven hundred and twenty commonalities, and 6480 cantons in the kingdom.

The mountains in France are, the Alps--the Pyrenees--the Vague--Mount Jura--the Convennes--and Mount Dor.

The chief rivers are, the Rhone--the Garoune--the Loire--the Seine--the Somme--and the Ardour.

The climate is mild and healthy, as has already been observed; and the soil fruitful, though not equal to Great Britain for corn: but their fruits are more numerous, and of a higher flavour than ours, by reason of their growing in a more southern country. They have the largest plumbs I ever saw: but their beans, peas, and strawberries were small. In the northern provinces they have good cider and perry; and in the southern the best of wines. In the province of Languedoc they raise silk and olive oil.

France does not abound in coal, which obliges the people to raise and burn wood, and sometimes turf. There are many excellent forests between Paris and Calais, and some beds of turf. In Paris they have the largest magazines of wood that I ever saw.

The animals in France are of the same kinds of those in England; only they have some wolves, as I was informed.

The French manufacture silks, woollens, velvets, brocades, alamodes, lawns, laces, cambrics, tapestry, glass, hardware, war-like implements, paper, hats, thread, toys, &c. but I do not think their manufacturies are equal to those of England in all respects.

France carries on the greatest foreign trade of any kingdom in the world, except Great Britain; and the inland trade is very large, by the way of their navigable rivers, canals, &c. One of the latter is said to be one hundred miles in length, and opens a communication between the ocean and the Mediterranean; it is carried over mountains and vallies, and through one mountain. It was begun and finished in the reign of Lewis XIV. It is called the Royal Canal, or Canal of Languedoc.

The established religion of France is that of the Roman Catholicks; but of late the Protestants have been allowed a toleration.

I was told at Paris that many of the people look upon the Romish clergy as impostors, and that they had found them out, and intend to pull them down.

It was said that a few of the laws of France were very arbitrary and tyrannical before the late Revolution, as they were totally inconsistent with the laws of humanity; among which was that for confiscating the property of foreigners dying in France, and appropriating it to the use of the state. But since my arrival at Paris the National Assembly have abolished for ever that unreasonable decree. Had I died whilst I was in that kingdom, and before the decree was abolished, my hat, shirts, coats, waistcoats, breeches, stockings, shoes, buckles, books, trunk, money, diploma, recommendations, &c. would have been confiscated and taken from my heirs; and for no other crime than that of my going to see the country, and do business for myself in Paris!

How unreasonable was it, that the heirs of the deceased, _viz._ the poor widows and the fatherless children, should have their property alienated in such a manner! Surely such a transaction must be disgraceful, not only to Christendom, but even to the most barbarous nations!

I was told that the National Assembly had also abolished, for ever, two other decrees, which they deemed unreasonable. They were those that debarred the clergy from the liberty of entering into the bands of matrimony, and certain females the same privilege; and also, for the keeping them in confinement all the days of their lives in nunneries.

Before the Revolution the laws were executed with the utmost severity.

A servant would be hung for stealing less then a shilling. Murderers and high-way robbers, and those that attempted to poison any body, were broke on the wheel.

Smugglers were condemned to be gally-slaves for life.

Women brought to bed with dead bastard children, without having made known their pregnancy, were burnt alive.

Priests that revealed the confessions of penitents, had their tongues tore out, their gowns stripped off, and were expelled from their employments.

He that robbed a church had his hands cut off at the church door, and was afterwards burnt at the place of execution, which was always in the centre of the town.

People of family, convicted of a capital offence, though not executed, are disennobled, with all their relations, turned out of their public employments, and rendered incapable of holding any afterwards, and all marriage contracts become void.

The nobility and clergy, with the burgesses of Paris, and some other free cities, were exempted from paying land taxes.

CHAP. XV.

France _an unlimited Monarchy before the Revolution.--The Kingdom was divided into fifteen Parts, in which were as many Parliaments.--It was also divided into twenty-five Generalities.--The King nominated the Bishops.--The Privileges of the Clergy.--The Orders of Knighthood.--From what the Revenues were collected.--A Statement of the Annual Incomes and Expences.--Of the Gold and Silver in Circulation.--National Debt, &c._

Having, partly from my own knowledge, and partly from credible information, given in the preceding chapter a short geographical description of the kingdom of France, I proceed, in the next place, to say something concerning its Constitution and Government before the late Revolution.

Let us therefore observe,

1. That France was an unlimited monarchy.

2. That both the legislative and executive powers resided in the king.

3. That his decrees had the same force as our acts of parliament.

4. That the kingdom was divided into fifteen parts, each of which had a parliament; as that of Paris, Toulouse, Rouen, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Dijon, Aix, Rennes, Pau, Besancon, Metz, Dowa, Perpignan, Arras, and Alsace.

5. That these parliaments consisted of a certain number of presidents and inferior judges, who purchased their offices of the crown, or of those that possessed them, as they were for life, unless the officers were found guilty of malconduct in the execution of their office.

6. That the parliament of Paris was esteemed the highest, because it was composed of princes of royal blood, dukes and peers, besides ordinary judges. Here the king frequently came in person, and had his royal edicts recorded and promulgated.

7. That the kingdom was also divided into twenty-five generalities, every one of which had an intendant, on whom the king depended for the administration of justice, in civil and criminal causes; for ruling and governing the subordinate officers, and ordering and conducting his finances and revenues.

8. That the king nominated the bishops and their livings, and then the pope sent his bulls of consecration.

9. That the crown seized all the temporalities of archbishopricks, and bishopricks, which was called the _regal_, and the king frequently gave pensions to laymen out of the bishopricks.

The privileges of the clergy were:

1. An exemption from paying land-taxes.

2. From having their books seized, with the other things they used in divine service.

3. They might be tried in criminal causes, if they chose it, before the grand chamber, which is a court where the nobility were tried.

4. They had the liberty of being degraded, or placed lower, before they could be executed for any atrocious crime.

5. They were exempt from having soldiers quartered on them.

6. Their persons could not be taken with executions in civil actions.

7. They were exempted from being brought before lay courts for personal matters:

But they could not bring a layman before an ecclesiastical court.

All spiritual actions were recognizable in the ecclesiastical courts, providing they were not blended with temporal matters; and when that was the case, they were obliged to try their causes before the civil courts.

There have been four orders of knighthood in France:

_Viz._ 1. Knights of the Holy Ghost,} { 1578. 2. Knights of St. Michael, } Instituted in { 1469. 3. Knights of St. Louis, and } { 1693. 4. Knights of St. Lazarus, }

The annual revenues were collected by a land-tax--by the customs--by a tax on salt--by a poll-tax--by a tenth of estates and employments--by a sale of all offices of justice--and by a tenth, or free gift of the clergy. But this revenue was subject to an enlargment, by raising the value of the coin, and by the compounding of the state bills and debentures.

The annual revenue of France, before the Revolution, was said to be 585,000,000 of livres, or 24,375,000 pounds sterling. Of which sum the clergy possessed 130,000,000 of livres. The annual balance of trade in favour of France, was 70,000,000 of livres. The gold and silver supposed to be in circulation 2,000,000,000 of livres, and the annual increase of it 40,000,000 more.

The annual expences of France 610,000,000 livres, or 25,416,666_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ sterling. The annual income 24,375,000_l._ The nation run in debt 1,041,666_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ _per annum_.

A GENERAL STATEMENT _of the Expences, Incomes, &c. stands thus_:

Livres Sterling.

Expences for collecting taxes 58,000,000 2,416,666 13 4 Annual of importations 230,000,000 9,583,333 6 8 Ditto of exportations 300,000,000 12,500,000 0 0 Ditto of balance of commerce 70,000,000 2,916,666 6 8 An. int. of the national debt 207,000,000 8,625,000 0 0 Annual charge of the army 124,650,000 5,193,750 0 0 Ditto of the navy 45,200,000 1,883,333 6 8 The amount of the taxes, &c. 585,000,000 24,375,000 0 0 Annual expences of the state 610,000,000 25,416,666 13 4 Gold and silver coin 2,200,000,000 91,666,666 13 4 Supposed annual increase 40,000,000 1,666,666 13 4 National debt 3,400,000,000 141,666,666 13 4 ------------------------------ May 1, 1779, National expen. 475,294,000 Revenue 431,533,000 ----------- Nation fell in debt 43,761,000 ===========

CHAP. XVI.

_The Constitution of_ France _changed from Monarchy to Democracy.--The Number and Power of the National Assembly.--The King is only an executive Officer.--A Decree of the National Assembly.--Titles of Nobility abolished._

Having in the preceding chapter given an account of the constitution and government of France before the Revolution, let us consider, in the next place, of the present constitution and government of that kingdom.

We must therefore observe:

1. That the constitution is changed from monarchy to democracy; that the legislative powers are taken from the king, and vested in the people.

2. That the kingdom is divided into eighty grand divisions, and subdivided into seven hundred and twenty commonalities and 6480 cantons.

3. That each commonality is empowered to send one representative to the National Assembly.

4. That the National Assembly is composed of seven hundred and twenty members, when the whole are convened.

5. That this assembly is the supreme legislative head of the nation.

6. That the power of making laws, raising of taxes, the coining, borrowing, and lending of money; the setting up and pulling down of officers, granting of commissions and employments; the making of war and peace; and the entering into treaties and alliances with foreign powers, belongs to this assembly only.

7. That the king is only an executive officer, as he is to see the laws of the representatives of the nation executed.

The king is to execute the actual decrees of the National Assembly, respecting war and peace; and is allowed to provide for the safety of the realm, in case of a foreign invasion, during the recess of the assembly.

A decree of the National Assembly, passed in May last, runs thus:

"The king shall have the right to provide for the security of the frontiers, to make every preparation, and take every necessary step to defend the national possessions; to manage the operations of the war, and to propose whatever he thinks proper for the general good:

"But the legislative body shall have the right to decide on the propriety of the war, make peace, and settle treaties.

"In case of war, the king shall give immediate notice of it to the legislative body, if the assembly is sitting, and if not, it shall be summoned immediately."

I was informed in Paris, that the National Assembly have abolished all the titles of nobility; and observed that their coats of arms were taken from their carriages.

It was also reported, that the nobility are to pay land and other taxes, in proportion to their abilities.

These are some of the fundamental alterations in the Constitution, according to the best information that I have been able to obtain. Let us then, in the next chapter, consider of the causes of the Revolution.

CHAP. XVII.

_Supposed Causes of the Revolution.--The Resolutions of the National Assembly.--Names of some of the Officers appointed under the New Constitution._

It is said that the Revolution arose from various causes: as,

1. The people had no part of the power of legislation.

2. They were deprived of the right of a trial by jury.

3. They paid more than their proportion of the public taxes, because the nobility, clergy, &c. were exempted from paying a land-tax.

4. They were under some laws peculiarly oppressive.

Their grievances will appear by the following resolutions, which on the 4th of August, 1789, the National Assembly unanimously agreed to, as a proof of their genuine patriotism to the people, as their affectionate and disinterested representatives, devoid of every motive but the common good; and, to give a great example to nations and ages, in the sacrifice of every abusive right and privilege whatsoever, incidental to all the orders, provinces, cities and communities, will raise the French name to a heighth unparalleled in history, and consecrate their memory as worthy of representing the enlightened knowledge, the courage, and the virtues of so great and generous a people.

"Article I. An equality of taxes, to commence from the present moment.

"II. The renunciation of all privileges for orders, cities, provinces, and individuals; a general uniformity to take place through the whole kingdom.

"III. The redemption of all feudal rights.

"IV. A suppression of mortmain and personal servitude.

"V. The produce of the redemption of the estates of the clergy to be applied to the augmentation of the salaries of the parish priests.

"VI. The abolition of the game laws, _capitaineries_.

"VII. The abolition of seigniorial jurisdictions.

"VIII. The abolition of the venality of officers.

"IX. Justice to be rendered gratuitously to the people.

"X. The abolition of privileged dove-coats and warrens, (a dreadful and serious grievance to the French peasant).

"XI. The redemption of tithes and field-rents.

"XII. It is forbidden to create in future any rights of the same nature, or any other feudal rights whatever.

"XIII. The abolition of the fees of parish priests, for births, marriages, or deaths, except in the cities.

"XIV. A speedy augmentation of the benefices of parish priests.

"XV. A suppression of the _droits d'annates_, or first fruits. (The sum paid by France to the pope on this head, ammounted annually to 357,133_l._ sterling.)

"XVI. The admission of all ranks of citizens to civil and military employments.

"XVII. The suppression of the duties of removal, paid by parish priests to the bishops in certain provinces.

"XVIII. The suppression of corporations and wardenships.

"XIX. The suppression of the plurality of livings.

"XX. A medal to be struck to consecrate this memorable day; expressive of the abolition of all the privileges, and of the complete union of all the provinces and all the citizens.

"XXI. _Te Deum_ to be sung in the king's chapel, and throughout all France.

"XXII. Louis XVI. proclaimed the restorer of public liberty."

There were several other articles, _viz._

The abolition of all unmerited pensions.

All artizens to be exempt from taxes, who employ no journeymen.

All suits for seignioral and royal rights, then pending in the courts, to be suspended till the constitution shall be completed.

All the interior councils were suppressed; and the cabinet were composed of the following ministers, who were responsible for every measure of state:

1. M. Necker, minister of the finances, or first lord of the treasury.

2. M. Montmorin, secretary for the foreign department.

3. M. St. Priest, secretary for the home department.

4. M. de la Lazurne, minister of the marine department.